NAIJA @ 52

I don’t know what was in the minds of those that agitated for Naija independence because I wasn’t there. If my father is 58 and my mother 55, that means the older between them was just 6 years older than Nigeria and He sure must still be wearing only pants then, so how can I know the minds of the Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo and the likes when I was not even in the picture at all.

So history, struggle and independence itself that I know are as a result of gists and what I read in books. That the struggle for independence took 15 years, I read it; that Nigerians waited patiently for documentation blah blah for 2 years I read; that Representatives of the Regional Governments, of former Central Governments, of the Missionary Societies, and of the Banking and Commercial enterprises, and members, both past and present, of the Public Service were present during the ceremony, I read. That it was even Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (ATB) that read the Independence speech sef, na read I read am for book. So what’s now my stress of killing myself when I didn’t even know what transpired except what I read and am not sure all I read were not doctored.

Why should I open my dirty mouth or put my sticky fingers to work at hauling insults to people at the helms of affairs when I don’t even know if that’s the goal for independence   - self enrichment although in Sir ATB’s speech some 52 years ago, he said and I quote ‘We, the elected representatives of the people of Nigeria, concentrated on proving that we were fully capable of managing our own affairs both internally and as a nation. However, we were not to be allowed the selfish luxury of focusing our interest on our own homes.’ Meaning they didn’t plan to be corrupt initially but If our crop of present representatives has assented to ‘chopping’ selfishly our collective resources, let them carry on. I will try as much as possible not to derail by not insulting them.

Briefly, there was Boston Tea Party that escalated to American Revolutionary War in 1775 before Americans gained there independence in July 4, 1776. There was American Civil War (1861 -65) 89 years after American independence. The United States became the leading industrialized power at the turn of the 20th century. Disgust with corruption, waste, and traditional politics stimulated the Progressive movement, (1890s–1920s) 144 years after independence. There was Wall Street crash in 1929 (153 years after independence) which marked the onset of the Great Depression. There was even the Pearl Harbor attack that led to World War II on December 7, 1941 (165 years after independence). And the story goes on and on.

There were 3 English Civil wars (1642-46), 91648-49) and (1649-51). These wars concerned focused on who ruled while there were  wars of the three Kingdoms that concerned itself with the manner of governing the three kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland. For France, there were power tussles following the death of the last Capetian monarch in 1337 until 1870 when a more lasting French third republic was established (233 years).

I chose these developed countries because they are always our basis of judgment when we want to criticize the present day government. It’s not that we didn’t go through our own war (Nigerian 1967-1970) but where are we today? Are we not better than these nations when Ages are compared?

 There are turmoil north, south, west and east. Book haram here, Militants there; PDP there, ACN here; PHCN, Nigerian Police Force, NNPC, NPA and so on. These organizations are the ills of this great nation. And just as we have OBJ, IBB, BAT, Buhari, Atiku, and the likes as individual ills, we also have YOU and I. So stop venting unnecessarily.

I have not come to say Nigeria has a nation has done well, yet I won’t want us to force Her into running when she is still suppose to be crawling.  She is a peculiar nation that has defied all mathematical and economics calculations. An imported theory will not work in Nigeria. We have to device a means of individually putting our best and collectively working together, then will our nation be greater for it.

Yea, we have not done well as a nation, yet we are not at war. It calls for celebration. Happy 52nd Birthday my Nigeria.

God Bless Niaja

Joobreel

Revenge Served Cold

Not too long ago in a not too far away village called Airegin where the source of livelihood lies in palm kernel oil, there was an uprising that almost engulfed the land. Fathers were killing sons, daughters were eating their mothers, friends became sworn enemies and the gods kept silent. There was rape, famine, pain and agony in the land. Innocent bloods were spilled, evil persisted yet, the keepers of the gate left it open. Palm kernels were harvested in millions of bunches by the winning group and anyone who stood against them or that was not in their support was either killed or jailed. You either stand with them or die. Just a little indifference will cost you your life either directly on the pathways as you walk or indirectly in their jails. There was total chaos. There was no mercy.

When the revolt and counter-revolt got to an unbearable point, the Elders of a neighboring land of ASU waded in the troubled waters of Airegin. They called all the warring factions in the land and advised them on what to do. They said they did it in their land and it is working. That even the fore-fathers of Airegin did it and it worked before greed scattered it. So the people of Airegin took the advice. They would unanimously appoint a king that would rule for a maximum of 52moons twice. This pegs his total ruling season at 104moons. This king will have an Otun that will step in if he the king is unavailable, messes up or dies. There will also be two ruling but different councils of chiefs that would be selected from each family in the village. These councils will serve as guides to the king. They will also have the authority to dethrone by majority, the king of the land. With this arrangement, the elders of ASU said, no family will cheated and there will be equality in the land.

So a man named Oba who came from the family of the cheated was agreed upon to be the King. And just as advised, he had Otun and the council of chiefs. With Oba’s experience as a former warrior, he was able to successfully rule for the first 52moons. By the time he was coming for his second season, he had become very powerful. He became so powerful the people that those who sponsored his selection could not handle him. He wielded his Kingly power so much he became a terror to them. He was able to impose in his friends, praise-singers, concubines and loyalists among families as chiefs in the two councils. He gave palm kernel merchandize to some of his God-sons, to some he appointed as advisers in his palace, to some as liaison chiefs between his village and other villages. He became a force to reckon with in the land, you dare not go against him. He will crush you.

When he was leaving after he ruled 104moons, he imposed one of his concubines – Heytay, as the head of one of the councils of chiefs when the next king was being installed. Other chiefs were furious but could not do much because of Oba’s Influence. About four-half moons into the new season, Heytay used 628 bags of cowries to buy 12 horses and repair her hut. This was the mistake that the chiefs were looking for. They fumed fire and brimstone. They would not agree that Heytey remains their head. There would be no gathering of the chiefs if she doesn’t vacate the position as their head. A chief named Pharook led this brouhaha. It was bad enough she was head, but now that she has done something wrong, she must go. Oba’s power could not withstand the insurrection; his concubine had to be removed as the head. Oba bowed out in shame.

Several moons later, it was discovered that palms harvested on the farms were more than the oils produced. Some Palm Kernel merchants were suspected to be stealing from the village. Chief Pharook who has been a member of the council of chiefs from inception was appointed as a team-head  of chiefs that will look into the case. Chief Pharook was chosen because of his long-lasting uprightness in the council. After so much investigation, a particular merchant was among those that were fingered to be stealing. Ifetola is his name and he happens to be Oba’s godson. Though he is a palm merchant, he doesn’t produce oil. His trade is to produce chaff used for cooking. Chief Pharook told him he would have to pay.

So Ifetola ran to Oba and told him about events unfolding. Oba responded, ‘my son, everybody steals. Everybody is a thief, just that they have not been caught. I will teach you what to do.’ And he added ‘I even have personal issue with that Pharook. He was the one that led the chiefs that ouster my concubine as their head. I will deal with him.’ He said he would let Pharook know that ‘once a king, always a king.’ And Ifetola knowing that no one offends Oba and goes scot-free, he allowed his godfather played the game he knows how to play best-revenge.

Oba called the head of the king’s guard, told him he wants to make a thief out of Pharook in the eyes of the villagers.  He also told Ifetola to promise Pharook 450 bags of cowries so that he would not be named among those that will pay for stealing. He said to his son ‘everybody has a price; it is for u to know the amount.’ Ifetola did as he was told. He called Pharook and gave him some painted cowries in the presence of the king’s guards without his knowledge. After two moons, Oba told Ifetola, ‘though he has removed your name, now is the time to nail him.’

So Ifetola came out openly to tell the villagers that he gave Pharook some handfuls of cowries and set the king’s guards to be witnesses. And chief pharook went back and forth on collecting or not collecting the cowries. Pharook then said he collected it to let the villagers know that Ifetola bribed him. And the story kept going to and fro.

One thing is clear; Ifetola can’t have access to the king’s guards if his godfather did not pull the strings. He would have gone to the village guards if it was his idea to show that he was not a thief. And if he (or is it his godfather?) didn’t have ulterior motives, he wouldn’t have confessed after his name has been removed. Moreover, how did he manage to be among the richest men in the village in just 728moons (three-half seasons)?

And either chief Pharook admits it or not, either he demanded or he was enticed, either he has supporters or not, he is going down in history as a pretending and corrupt chief. His brilliantly built image as a chief of repute has been bashed. He has found himself on the tree with branches far apart. It doesn’t matter if he is a Nailizarb or Nairegin monkey, any attempt to leap will bring him smashing on the ground with an echoing thud. Just has Heytay made that disgraceful move, Pharook fell for the bait and believe me, the battle is beyond him and Ifetola. He has found himself in an intricate web which he can’t loosen himself from.

Is Oba the person at war with Pharook?

Joobreel

Selling the Presidential Jets

Mrs. Joyce Banda of Malawi is the second female president in africa. I didnt like her for supporting same sex marriage in order to accrue cheap foreign aids from Western Nations.

Now I am having a change of mind when she decided to sell the country's only presidential jet and 60 Mercedes Limousines in the president's fleet. She flew to the Queen's Jubilee celebration in a British Airways plane. The presidential jet has an annual running cost of about E220,000. This is a measure she has taken to overturn the bad decisions of previous government.

The president of Nigeria has 11 private jets. ( what is 11 sef when a pastor has 4?) He met 9 on ground and bought 2 more. The cost of running these luxury air buses we would never know. If in Malawi they spend that much, what will be said of Nigeria where our president, first lady and the others travel like they are moving from Lekki to Victoria Island?

My questions are these. Is it possible for Mr. president to sell 10 of those things at least he can use just 1 at a time? Oh! The wife will use 1, the senate president 1, the PDP chairman 1, the two first children 1 each, special adviser will share 1... the lost is endless.
If the prime minister of Britain doesn't have a private jet and travels in commercial airlines, why cant our politicians do same?
If public servants of this nation stop taking chartered/private flights especially for their local travels, will the state of our aviation industry be like this?
Would there be incessant plane crashes if the first family and their numerous accolades take public flights?

 The aviation minister said the reports of the SOSOLISO and ADC airlines crashes that happened eons ago are ready but pending approval before it can be released. Help me to ask her 'when is the earliest possible time to expect the report of the DANA crash'? When?
Joobreel

Still on the matter...

The following unedited chat ensued after my a big brother of mine read the blog. could lack of adeqaute mentorship be the bane of Mr President's trouble. Peruse through the BB chat and make contributions.
lets go
Participants:
-------------
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_, PP

Messages:
---------
PP:
I think he likes goin by the book
PP:
He sometimes needs to use his executive powers
PP:
In that way he will probably annoy some people
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_:
But he has never for once used the power he possesses? Reason y som ppl think he is weak
PP:
Forcing some of the pple bankrolling the chaos to loose their cool
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_:
But sir, shd he keep being docile despite knowing the culprits behind the chaos and turmoil  the nation is. Going through?
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_:
Because he doesn't want to roughen some pples feathers?
PP:
Yeah
PP:
That's y I feel he was not well schooled in the art of leadership
PP:
I think he severed relationship too early with his political godfathers
PP:
Na soo
PP:
I know he has gud intentions for nigeria
PP:
But nig needs pple like obj
PP:
Abacha and their likes
PP:
Unorthodox leaders
PP:
Jonathan is not one
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_:
Hmmm. Word!
PP:
The matter is complicated further by the fact that he is not a hausa nor of muslim extraction
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_:
Then he shd just keep his mute come 2015 then
PP:
I hope so too
PP:
Or alternatively I hope a better candidate emerges
PP:
Someone with strength of character
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_:
But. We. Have had muslim and hausa leaders now, then didn't do much good either
PP:
We had less crisis as well
PP:
So while the economy or standard of livin was suffering, people were safe
PP:
So there was no widespread anger against the president
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_:
So that's d game hausas are playing against our toothless president.  neva saw things this way. Hmmm!
PP:
I think jonathan to me now seems to be the most unpopular president in nigerian history
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_:
 think so too. He has been rated worse than abacha sef
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_:
His crime now is because he is not well grounded in nigerian politics.  pity d guy
PP:
Boko haram is not a sy problem
PP:
Its a religious n political issue
PP:
Wait until one prominent hausa man is killed
PP:
Boko haram will cease that day
PP:
Of course
PP:
He has no ideology
PP:
Abacha was harsh
PP:
He needed to keep obj on board for a longer period
PP:
Yeah
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_:
He was too much in a hurry to show what he can do on his own. He screwed up! If Obj is still wt him, he will have faired beta dan dis
PP:
He shd have made him more relevant
PP:
So he could ride on his experience n political clout
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_:
Hmmm!
PP:
Most likely
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_:
Maybe he wanted to quickly dissociate from Obj cos pple he think he was just going to be a puppet while obj ll be running d country from behind.
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_:
He wanted to prove a point.
PP:
Yeah
PP:
We aLl need mentors
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_:
Yeah! We really do need dem. Thanks for ur insight.
PP:
He could have done more smoothly but maintain d link
PP:
Lol
PP:
It was nice
PP:
Gistin wit ya man
PP:
Thanks to bb
PP:
:)
__̅_̅̅_̅̅̅  Joobreel®™Olamide  _̅̅̅_̅̅_̅_:
U r welcome  sir;

Is my president really weak?

Who is Goodluck Jonathan? Is he truly Just On National Assignment To Harm All Nigerians as some flickers from some quarters have tagged him? Could a 'man- without- shoes' when he was campaigning to be president aims be to harm us in this our nation Nigeria? Or has he changed now that he has hundreds of them? Could it be that he has become insensitive to the plights of the common man because he claimed to be a common man like us when he was campaigning rigorously after ascending to the position of the Acting President when his predecessor died in office? Could it just be by chance that my president is being continuously ill-advised by those that surround him or some of the members of his workforce are really plotting his downfall? Are the numerous special advisers and assistants that orchestrate all his actions be the culprits behind the mishaps he dishes to the citizenry?

 How about the ‘northern powers’ that promised to make Nigeria ungovernable for him, are they the ones at work? Are they the drummers behind the shameful dance of our president? I don't want to believe they are responsible for the numerous bombings and kidnaps just in the name of making the nation difficult to run. 'Naija' must really be in the waters with turbulent waves if these power mongers are the culprit behind the wide-spread hardship in this nation.

My president once said he knows these people. He admitted the trouble-makers are Nigerians with known faces. He openly confessed these evil perpetrators live among us. What then is Goodluck Jonathan waiting for to arrest this situation? Can’t he apprehend these elements of discord? Can’t GEJ use all his machineries as the most powerful president in the world (at least some referred to him as that during the fuel-subsidy saga) to bring these supposed ‘enemies of his tenure’ to book? What is the Nigerian Police Force for, receiving bribes and handouts from motorists? No! They are supposed to work the works for which they have been called for. We have the States Secrets Service Agents, are they for decorations. Maybe these people are more powerful to be toyed with. Maybe they are too big for our SSS and Police. Or are these trouble-fomenting northern politicians just one of our propaganda?

Wait a minute; is Mr. Goodluck really in charge of the affairs of this nation Nigeria? Am I thinking that someone that found himself by chance at helms of affairs of African most populous country isn’t a good politician?  Maybe not being a super-politician was the origin of his problems. Could it be that he is just adrift and not in control of the happenings around him? Has he left his primary duty as the Chief Security Officer to the supposed security chiefs he has. Has Mr. Ebele resigned to faith that he is incapable to running this country and just waiting for his tenure to elapse? Who knows? My mind is running amok over these disturbing questions that await answers.

Could the saying that ‘Nigeria is too complex for him to handle’ be true? Has the system so collapsed that it can’t be revamped by mere good luck? Has the state of the nation so degenerated that it will take a stronger-willed person to restore Nigeria to her past glory?  Could it be that my president is just taking his time, waiting for the right time to player his joker?

These amongst many other questions bother me when I think about this big ship – Nigeria. And when a ship sinks, the captain is held responsible.

Mr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been tagged ‘weak’ when he cried at the scene of the Dana Crash that occurred in Lagos where 153 persons died. So I am beginning to wonder, if my president is really weak? Is he strong enough to steer this ship to shore safely? Time will tell.

Joobreel